Pre Eastern Michigan Thoughts

[General20]

I don't have a lot of time today and this isn't a very big game so I am going to make this quick.

Eastern Michigan is coached by Ex-SU assistant Troy Murphy, so the team they are most comparable to is us.

They are tall and long for a mid major, and they play 2-3 zone 100% of the time, just like us.

They also have Ex-SU player Deshonte Riley in the middle. Riley played very little here before transferring. He is a relatively soft seven footer with some skill.

Eastern Michigan has two things going against them.

First, they are going to zone us. We have been very good against zone's this year, and teams have generally stayed away from zoning us. That is not an option for Eastern Michigan.

Second, they play exactly like we do, which is usually bad news for the underdog. Upsets almost always happen when two styles clash. When two teams play the same way the more talented team almost always wins (usually big).

Eastern Michigan does have one thing going for it, and that is Syracuse's propensity to play close games against mid-majors.

Statistically Syracuse has looked almost the same against major and mid-major competition. I do not think this has anything to do with playing to the level of your competition, but rather I believe it is a product of the players. Usually the most athletic teams have the biggest margins of victory against mid-majors. This Syracuse team isn't as jaw-droppingly athletic as most Syracuse teams. They are more skilled, and seem to do what they do just as well against major competition as they do against mid-major which is unusual.

Predictoins:

Cooney makes another 5+ three-pointers.

My three sons get a lot more playing time than they did against High Point.

For once nobody banks a wild three in against us as the shot clock expires (this might just be wishful thinking).

20+ point victory for Syracuse.

 

[bnoro]

Great post as always. Rob Murphy is their coach though, not Troy.

 

[orange2win]

They have played more ranked teams this year than us. We will be their 3rd top ten opponent. However, they have not had a single big win and have taken not one of the good teams close. Certainly they have the inside track to be a threat, but they lack the talent.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

I'd like to see DC2 with positive play.

I'm still trying to hope SU can develop some post O by March of this year. The odds of this happening took a turn for the worse with his Villanova bringing the ball and getting down stripped disaster. But even if it isn't for this year, the development of DC2 could bring a huge additional offensive weapon at some time in the future. Well worth the investment IMO.

 

[jimsonjunction]

I'd like to see DC2 with positive play.

I'm still trying to hope SU can develop some post O by March of this year. The odds of this happening took a turn for the worse with his Villanova bringing the ball and getting down stripped disaster. But even if it isn't for this year, the development of DC2 could bring a huge additional offensive weapon at some time in the future. Well worth the investment IMO.

I agree, and I think DC will have some shiny moments today (I'd still like to learn more about his injury, by the way).

But in reality, I think Christmas is our best bet for low-post production, and I'd like to see him get more shot attempts. He's shown great touch around the basket - better than Coleman, in my opinion.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

I agree, and I think DC will have some shiny moments today (I'd still like to learn more about his injury, by the way).

But in reality, I think Christmas is our best bet for low-post production, and I'd like to see him get more shot attempts. He's shown great touch around the basket - better than Coleman, in my opinion.

That's a good point. I guess I shouldn't be so biased. Maybe it is based on DC2's physical similarities to AO and RJ.

Rak has shown some moves lately. It would be nice to see a couple of designed plays to Rak and see how he does against Riley. Plus Rak has that 75% figure going for him.

I'll expand my wish to see some feeding of the post for both DC2 and Rak.

 

[jordoo]

I agree, and I think DC will have some shiny moments today (I'd still like to learn more about his injury, by the way).

But in reality, I think Christmas is our best bet for low-post production, and I'd like to see him get more shot attempts. He's shown great touch around the basket - better than Coleman, in my opinion.

Agreed the answer to post scoring this year is Christmas and actually Grant. Coleman is moving in the right direction but is just a year away still. Next year we should have really good low post scoring with either DC2 or Rak in their most of the game. IF we could just get Rak 6-8 shots a game he'd average around 10pnts no problem. He doesn't take bad shorts and is a willing passer if they double plus he can actual 1 dribble drive past most guys his size from 15'.

 

[Madbiker]

I thought it was a smart move by Coach K to schedule them as way to get work against the 2-3 zone. Duke's pressure really sped up the game and bothered them. They could not handle Parker at all. My guess is that our game will be slower because we both play zone. It allows EMU to play at a slower pace (which is why we have historically had trouble with good mid majors). It will be a low number of possession game which will keep the score relatively low and the margin somewhat respectable. SU will win because in the end talent will win out.

 

[Jack Hall]

my prediction: TC w six threes and DC2 w twelve and ten

 

[IthacaMatt]

I don't have a lot of time today and this isn't a very big game so I am going to make this quick.

Eastern Michigan is coached by Ex-SU assistant Troy Murphy, so the team they are most comparable to is us.

20+ point victory for Syracuse.

Oops!

 

[IthacaMatt]

That's a good point. I guess I shouldn't be so biased. Maybe it is based on DC2's physical similarities to AO and RJ.

Rak has shown some moves lately. It would be nice to see a couple of designed plays to Rak and see how he does against Riley. Plus Rak has that 75% figure going for him.

I'll expand my wish to see some feeding of the post for both DC2 and Rak.

I'm not so sure Boeheim has been fond of a couple of those spin moves 10 feet from the hoop in traffic. Somehow that one went in, but that's going to wind up being called an offensive foul if he tries it again against better competition.

 

[Sgt Cuse]

I'm not so sure Boeheim has been fond of a couple of those spin moves 10 feet from the hoop in traffic. Somehow that one went in, but that's going to wind up being called an offensive foul if he tries it again against better competition.

Yeah, Rak may be better served to just try something with a little less of a degree of difficulty attached to it. It was still impressive to see that though, didn't know he had it in him.

 

[jordoo]

I'd also prefer a one dribble blow bye which he can do against plenty of guys his size. Still he has shown more offensively this year than our other two big guys IMO. Touches on the block that's what he needs.

 

[tbonezone]

i seem to recall dashonte looking pretty improved last time we played. this year he's put up 2 against duke and 4 against kentucky. split the diff and hold him to 3 points 3 boards.

 

[iommi]

What have you guys seen in Coleman that gives you guys reason for all the optimism in this thread about his game? To me, outside of some weight loss this off-season, he looks like exactly the same player as a year ago. He's still doing the bull in a china closet routine. He still brings the ball down low and gets packaged and/ or stripped with regularity. He still lacks post moves and a back to the basket game. Where has he been showing improvement?